“I ~ around ~”
Rio
(SONG)
People outside Hawaii learned about the ukulele a century ago, and it is known today around the world. It is particularly popular in Japan thanks to pioneers such as Ernest Kaai and Katsuhiko Haida and, since the 1960s, Herb “Ohta-san” Ohta and the numerous artists who have followed in Ohta’s musical footsteps. Rio Saito, a 14-year-old Japanese instrumentalist, acknowledges many of them in the liner notes of his debut album. He explores a diversity of genres and does so with an unusual combination of instruments backing him.
Rio’s ukulele shares the spotlight with violin, acoustic bass and assorted percussion instruments. Ukulele and violin aren’t often heard together. Acoustic bass and percussion are a good choice as the rhythm section.
One song is an original; others are by members of his team. World music — from a Japanese perspective — is represented by Rodgers and Hart, Toots Thielemans and Antonio Carlos Jobim. Rio includes Hawaii with an Ernest Kaai song.
There are places where Rio is overshadowed by his sidemen, but this is a fine calling card and should introduce him to audiences outside Japan.
Visit gloriomusic.com.
“Death by Snu Snu”
Harold Wong
(Pass Out)
Harold Wong is an unusual guy on the local club scene. His specialty is original music with a comic twist. Some of his work is clever. Some of it sounds like the ranting of a disgruntled college freshman who isn’t getting on well with the women he’d like to be getting it on with. Men of all ages can relate.
Several of the studio recordings would benefit from the introductions that one assumes are part of his club act. For instance, “Dots” describes the game of Pac-Man from the perspective of the Pac-Man character, but you have to know the game to catch the references. Knowledge of the “Twilight” romance novels is needed to appreciate the lyric subtleties in “Vampire Wannabe.” A third song, “Star Wars Nerd,” also has some inside jokes.
The final two tracks catch Wong in his natural element, performing for an enthusiastic audience that sounds well past the point when they should have given their car keys to a designated driver. “Drunken Nights” has the feel of an authentic old Irish tune, but the composer’s credits reveal Wong wrote it as well.
Wong is unapologetically R-rated throughout. The parental advisory warning on the back cover is no joke.
Visit passoutrecords.com.
“Endangered Species”
Stuart Hollinger
(Keala)
Stuart Hollinger made a memorable musical statement in 2013 with a reworking of “Hawaii ’78” that transformed the classic hapa-haole mele kue (song of resistance) into powerful up-tempo rock. Hollinger’s version removed the Hawaiian-ness of the traditional arrangement but kept the message and the emotion intact. The album it was on, “Dangerous Crossing,” earned him a Hoku Award (Best Rock Album) in 2014.
Hollinger is addressing more conventional subject matter with this album of originals. The musical arrangements reaffirm his strength as a musician (bass); producer Rick Robbins (guitars/keyboards/programming) is the other half of his studio band, and they play solid mainstream rock. Hollinger’s bass slams especially hard on a tune titled “Picking Up the Pieces.” Robbins’ guitar work stands out on “Dog House,” a stream-of-consciousness account of domestic terror.
Stream-of-consciousness lyrics predominate throughout. Hollinger’s lyrics are earnest rather than polished, evidently written without concern for the standard lyricist’s concepts of rhyme and rhythm.
Hollinger is donating proceeds from sales to five groups that are working to save endangered species.
Visit stuarthollinger.com.
